Time gas lighting or extinguishing mechanism.



No. 634,856. Patented Oct. I0, I899.

A. B. SHAW. TIME GAS LIGHTING 0R EXTINGUISHING MECHAMSM.

(Application filed May 31, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

If .lIII.

No. 634,856. I I Patented Oct. m,- I899.

A. B. SHAW.

TIME GAS LIGHTING 0R EXTINGUISHING MECHANISM.

{Application filed May 81, 1899.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheei 2.

'ilnrrn STATES ATET AI B. SHA'W, F MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TOTHE UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTING COMPANY, OF AUBURN, MAINE.

THVIE'. GAS LIGHTING OR EXTINGUISHING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,856, dated October10, 1899.

Application filed May 31,1899. Serial No. 718,880. (No model.)

To (6 whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, AI 13. SHAW, of Medford,in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Gas Lighting and Extinguishing Mechanisms, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic gas lighting andextinguishing devices whereby the gas-burner is automatically lighted orextinguished at predetermined times, audit is designed more especiallyto be used in connection with burners having incandescent mantles orwhat is known to the trade as \Velsbach burners, and to be used forlighting streets,&c.

It has for its object to produce a more simple andcheaper device thanthose now in use for this purpose and one which will be less liable toget out of order and be more certain of operation.

This invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements, andcombinations of parts, as will be fully described hereinafter andparticularly set forth in the claims hereunto annexed and forming a partthereof.

The invention is carried out substantially as illustrated on theaccompanying drawings, forming an essential part of this specification,common and well-known equivalent devices to those shown being understoodto be included in my invention.

On the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the devicewhen applied to a mantle-burner, showing the inclosing'case in section.Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the device, alsoshowing it applied to a mantle-burner. Fig. 3 represents a cross-sectionon the line A B, shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. represents a cross-section onthe line C D, shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a cross-section on theline E F, shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents a cross-section on the lineG H, shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 represents a cross-section on the line I J,shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 represents a cross-section on the line K L,shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 represents a cross-section on the line M N,shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 10, ll, and 12 represent detailed views of aportion of the intermediate mechanism between the gas-controlling valveand the driving mechanism of the device employed to cause thegas-controlling valve to be alternately opened or closed when acted uponby the driving mechanism. Fig. 13 represents a detail sectional view ofthe gaseoutrolling valve and connecting mechanism when used with acommon burner having a lava or other tip.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts wherever they occur onthe different parts'of the drawings.

The object of my present invention is to provide a gas-controlling valveand a device to light the gas which is allowed to escape by theoperation of this valve, which valve and device shall be so connected tothe motor which drives the time-determining mechanism and be so easy ofoperation that it can be operated by said time-determining motor withoutmaterially taxing the power or interfering with the accuracy of the timemechanism and without the use of a separate and independent motor forthis purpose. By this means I am able to simplify the construction ofdevices used for this purpose, and thus make them less bulky orexpensive to manufacture and less liable to get out of order.

Within an inclosing casing 1 of suitable shape is placed a timemechanism 2, driven by a spring, weight, or other motor in common use tofurnish a motive power for a time mechanism. The time mechanism 2 isprovided with a face 3 and hands 4 and 5, as usual. ing the hour-hand4., is mounted a spur-gear 6, from which motion is conveyed to a shaft7by a suitable train of gears, shown on the drawings as consisting of thespur-gear 8, firmly mounted on the shaft 7, meshing into an intermediatespur-gear 9, mounted upon a shaft 10, having hearings in a suitableframe 11 Within the casing 1, the intermediate gear itself meshing intothe gear 6. The relative sizes of the gears 6, 8, and 9 are preferablysuch that two rotations of the gear 6, repre* senting one day ortwentyfour hours, will cause one complete rotation of, the gear 8 or theshaft carrying it. Upon the shaft 7 is also firmly mounted a disk 12,having two pins 13 13 projecting therefrom and arranged upon said diskin suitable position for a purpose to Upon the center shaft, or thatcarry- "hook 21, and the inclined surface 22.

be understood by a further description of the invention.

A lever 14 is fulcrumed at to the frame 11 or to the casing 1 and hasits free end arranged to be within the path of the pins 13 13 on thedisk 12 when said-disk is rotated with the rotations of the shaft 7. Thepins 13 engage the under side of the free end of the lever 14 and by therotation of the disk cause said lever to turn upon its fulcrum and tomove upward until the disk has rotated sufficiently to carry the pinfrom under the lever, when the weight of the lever will cause it to turnupon its fulcrum and to move downward. .The downward movement of'thelever upon its fulcrum is limited by a suitable stop.

A pawl16 is fulcrumed at 17 to the lever 14 and-moves upward anddownward with said lever. This pawl is weighted, so as to normallystandin a vertical position, but is free to be turned upon its fulcrumagainst the influence of its weight, as hereinafter described.

' A'1ever-18 is fulcrum-ed at1'9 within the casing and has one end soarranged that it will be in the path of the pawl16 when said pawl ismoved upward by the action of the pins 13 upon the lever 14. The pawl'16(the shape of which is best illustrated in'Fig. 12) is provided with theinclined surface 20, the When the lever'18 is in the position shownin'Figs. 1 and 2a-nd the pawl is moved upward, with -the lever 14, bythe action of the pins 13, the inclined surface 20 of the pawl willengage the underside of the lever 18, which will cause "thepawl to beturned upon its fulcrum until it has moved snfficiently toallow the pawlto pass the end of the lever, when the pawlwill automatically assume itsnormal or vertical the action of the pin 13 and moved downward position.When the lever 14 is released from by its ownweight, carrying the pawl16with it, the hook 21 will hook upon the upper side of the lever 18 andcarry that end of the lever downward with the pawl and the lever 14.'This =will cause the lever 18 to turn upon its fulcrum and the oppositeend to be moved upward. A

suitable stop 23 is arranged within the path of the'downward movement ofthe end of the lever 18 in order to limit its movement, and this stop ispreferably made adjustable up and down to vary the amount of movement ofsaid lever. In order to make said stop adjustable, I make it a part ofthe plate 24, which is fulcrumed at 25 to the frame 11 or to the casing1 and is held in its adjustedposition by means -pawl being limited inits movement by means of a suitable stop 29 on'the plate 24. This-wellknownmeans.

detent-pawl tends to hold the end of the lever 18 downward independentof the pawl 16 after the pawl has moved the end of the lever down. Afterthe pawl 16 has depressed the end of the lever 18, as above described,

projection 30, havingthe inclined surface substantially as,shown,-w-hich --sur;face is in the path of the upper edge ofthe lever18 when; said; pawl drops down-ward with the lever 14 after the pin 13has. moved from contact with the lever 14.and allowed said lever tomove-downward. The action. of the inclined surface 22 upon the upperedgeof the lever 18 is such that it causes the detent-pawl to be movedto one side andfrom' contact with the end of the leverlS and'into such aposition that the lever 18 is free to move upon its fulcrum. Astheoppositeend ofsaid le- :ver carries-a-weight, as will benuderstood bya further description, said freed end ofthe lever 18 willimmediatelyniove upward when released by the movement of thedetentpawlabove described.

:It will be seen that each complete upward and downward movement of thelever 14,

1 caused by the action of the. pins 13,.will alternately-move the end ofthe lever 18downward and lock it oriwill release it and allow itto-move. upward. Thisalternate up-anddown movement of; llllQrlQVQl' 18I, employ to open and vcloseia valve controlling :the supply ofgas tothe'burner, and this valve and connecting mechanismbe-tween thevalve andlever 18. and between the valve and burner are substantially as follows:The casing 1 is provided with the inlet 31, which is connected to thegas-supply pipe 32 byilnyv suitable and An annular reservoir or-pocket33-within the casing surrounds this inlet and contains a quantity ofmercuryor other liquid, which is preferably such thatit will'not freezein very cold or-evaporatein veryhot and dry Weather. This mercury orother liquid vforms a sealbetween the inlet 31 .and-apassage leading tothe burner,,which seal is made or broken by the manipulation of apeculiar valve, described hereinafter, in order to. allow gas to besupplied-tothe burner or to 'shutoff the supply of gas, as desired.

The valve which in connection with the mercury is used to control-thesupply of, gas; to the burnerisconstructed substantially asfolvlows: Atube 34, arrangedvertically,is loosely mounted at its. lower end withinthevinlet 31 and at its upper end within aguide in theinclosing casing.This tube is provided with two inverted cups 35 and 36, secured near thelower end of the tube and surrounding it,substantially as shown. Thesecups of different sizes are arranged one within the other and are sosecured to the tube that there will be a space formed between all par-tsof the two cups, as shown. The lower edge of the inner cup 35 is abovethe lower edge of the outer cup 36 for a purpose to be understood by afurther description of the invention. A cross wall or stopper 37 isplaced within the tube 34 at a position substantially on a level withthe place where the inner cup 35 is secured to the tube 34, whichstopper tends to prevent gas from passing upward through the tube 34directly from the supply-inlet 31. A perforation 33 through the tube 34furnishes free communication between the interior of said tube below thecross-wall 37 and the interior of the inner inverted cup A secondperforation 39 through the tube 34 furnishes free communication betweenthe interior of said tube above the cross-wall 37 and the space betweenthe inner cup 35 and the outer cup 36. The inner inverted cup 35 is soarranged that its lower edge normally enters the mercury within thereservoir 33, and thereby forms a seal preventing the escape of gas fromwithin the inner cup; but said inner cup may be raised by an upwardmovement of the tube 34, so that the lower edge of the cup will be abovethe mercury and gas can escape. The lower edge of the outer inverted cup36 is also so arranged that it enters the mercury and forms a seal toprevent the escape of gas from within this outer cup, and the lower edgeof the outer cup extends sufficiently below the lower edge of the innercup to prevent the outercup from being withdrawn from the mercury by anupward movement of the tube 34 suffieiently to allow the gas to escapefrom the inner cup into the outer cup. From the above description itwill be seen that the inner inverted cup 35, in connection with themercury in the reservoir 33, forms a valve controlling the escape of gasfrom the gas-supply pipe through the tube 34 below the cross-wall 37 andthat the outer inverted cup 36, in connection with the mercury in thereservoir 33, forms a passage to guide the gas which may be allowed toescape by the operation of the inner cup from said inner cup into thetube 34 above the crosswall 37.

The end of the lever 18 opposite to that which is engaged by the pawl 16enters a space between the upper end of the outer cup 36 and aprojection 40 on the outside of the tube 34, and by this means the lever13 and the tube'34 are coupled together, so that any movement of thatend of the lever 18 will impart a corresponding movement of the tube 34,causing the valve formed by the inverted cups 35 and 36 to open or closethe supply of gas from the supply-pipe 32 to the tube 34 above thecross-wall 37. As the movements out departing from my invention. escapesfrom the tube 34 into the mixingof the lever-1S are controlled by theaction of the pawl 16 and lever 14, above described, it will be seenthat gas will be supplied to the tube 34 above the cross-wall 37 once inevery twenty-four hours and will also be cut off once in everytwenty-fen r hours.

in Figs'. 1 to 5, both inclusive, I haveillustrated a mantle-burnersimilar to that known as a Welsbach burner, as being used in connectionwith myimproved automatic gas lighting and extinguishing mechanism,which burner consists of a casing or shell 41, containing amiringchamber 42, into which air to be mixed with the gas is admittedthrough the series of perforations 43 43, regulated in size and shieldedby means of the adjustingsleeve, the shield 44, a gauze 45, throughwhich the mixed air and gas escapes from the mixing-chamber, a mantle46, into which the gas and air escapes and is consumed, and a support 47for said mantle. The shell 41, miXin g-chamber 42, perforations 43,shield 44, gauze 45, mantle 46, and support 47 are of the common andwell-known construction of m antic-burners and may be varied by the useof any other and proper construction with- The gas chamber 42 through asmall perforation or perforations 48, made within the closed upper endof the tube 34,'and the amount of gas which will escape and the pressureon said gas are regulated, preferably, in the following manner: The tube34 is provided with a cross-wall 49, which prevents the gas from flowingdirectly through the tube. A passage 50 is formed outside of the tube 34and communicates with the interior of the tube 34 by means of theperforations 51 and 52 made through the tube, one of said perforationsbeing made above and one below the cross-wall 49. An adjusting-screwvalve 53 is screwed through the wall of the passage 50 and is soarranged that its inner end can be moved so as to partially fill or varythe size of the perforation 51 more orless, as desired, thus regulatingthe amount of gas which can flow from the tube 34 below the cross-wall49 and into the passage 50. The screw 53 extends out through a slottedopening 54 in the easing in order to bring it into proper position toeasily adjust the flow of gas from outside the casing, the slottedopening also allowing for the vertical movement of the tube 34 when saidtube is moved to supply gas to the burner or to cut off the supply. Thisscrew and slot also prevent any rotation of the tube 34 and itsconnections.

Within the tube 34 and passing through the cross-walls 37 and 49 andthrough the closed end of the tube 34 is a central tube 55, which is inopen comm unication with the gassupply pipe 32 at its lower end. Thistube 55 is firmly secured to or made in one piece with the tube 34, sothat it will move with it when the tube 34 is raised or lowered by theaction of the lever 18. The upper end of the cut off from the burner.

tube 55 extends into a tubular projection 56, projecting downward fromthe under side of the gauze 45, which projection surrounds a centralperforation in the gauze. A rod 57 of less diameter than the innerdiameter of the tube 55 is inserted within the tube 55 and has its lowerend resting upon a cross-bar 58 in the inlet-passage 31, which cross-bardoes not f u rnish any'particular obstruction to the flow of gas throughthe inlet-passage. The u pper' end of the rod 57 projects above theupper end of the tube 55, and said rod is provided at its upper end,within the tubular projection 56',with a head portion 59 of a'dialnetersubstantially equal to the outside diameter of the tube 55. This rod isof suchlength that its head portion will come into contact with theupper-end of the tube 55 and will close the end of said tube against theescape of gas therefrom when the tubes 34 and 55 are raised by theaction of the lever Is and gas isfurnished to the burner by drawing theinverted cup 35 from contact with the mercury; but said rod will restupon the cross-bar 5S and cause the tube 55 to movedownward upon saidrod, allowing a small quantity of gas to escape between the rod andinside of the tube 55, whenthe'tubes the lever 18, and the supply of gasis thereby The small quantity of gas which escapes from the tube 55rises within the tubular projection 56,'ignites 'at the centralperforation in the gauze 45, and

forms a pilot burner by which the main burner is lighted when the gas issupplied to themain burner. The head portion 59 of the rod in connectingwith the tube 55 forms a valve to control the supply of gas to thispilot-burner, The opening and closing of the valves which control thesupply of gas to the pilot-burner and to the main burner are so timed inrelation to each other that the pilotburner will never be extinguishedbefore the main burner has been lighted and the main burner will neverbe extinguished before the pilot-burnerhasbeenlighted. Byhavingthe headportion of the rod 57 and the upper end of the tube 55, which togetherform the valve for the pilot-burner, always within the tubularprojection 56 from the gauze 45 and somewhatbelow the upper open end ofsaid tubular projection the place of combustion is always above saidvalve, and consequently there is no liability of burning the valve or ofhaving it become foul by the products of the combustion of the gasburned by the pilot-burner.

The gauze 45 and its tubular projection 56 are held upon the upper endof the shell 41, preferably by means of the sleeve 60, substantially asshown, and this gauze may be firmly secured to said sleeve, if sodesired. By this means the gauze and projection may be easily andreadily removed after removing the mantle and the rod be withdrawn fromthe-tube to clean or to repair it.

By making the valve which controls the supply of gas to the main burnerin the manner shown there is no liability of the gas-leaking throughthis valve, and by making the tube 34 and connections thereto, which areraised and lowered in order to open or close the supply of gas to themain burner and to the pilot-burner, of very light material there isvery little power required to be stored'within the lever 14 by the timemechanism to operate this valve. Therefore it does not overtax orinterfere with the accuracy of said time'mechan'ism;

In Fig. 13 I have illustrated the valves which control the gas-supply tothe burners when a common gas-burner is to be used in my apparatus. Inthis construction the tube 34 is extended and offset substantially asshown, and-the common lava or other tip 61 is inserted in the endof thetube34. The tubular projection 56, the open end of which forms thepilot-burner,'is attached to the tube 34,'near the top of the same, andmoves with it. The operation of this construction of my device issubstantially the same as that shown in the other views of the drawingsand needs I no particular description. 34 and 55' move downward by theaction of The above-describedvalves which control the supply of gasto'the main burner and to the pilot-burners, as Well as the peculiarconstruction of the passages which convey the gas from the gas supply tosaid burners, are used in this application merely on account of theirbeing particularly adapted to be used with the remaining parts of myimproved mechanism, and the construction of said valves and passages inthemselves form no essential part of this application, but are to beembodied in an application to be filed'during the pendency of thisapplication. They will, however, be included in the following claims incombination with other parts of the mechanism which cooperate therewithto pro- 'duce novel and desired results.

It is desirable to adjust the depth that the inverted cup 35 will enterthe mercury when closing the supply of gas to the main burner, so as toinsure its closing said supply, but not to enterthe mercury to too greata depth. In order to accomplish this, I provide the casing with theadjustable stop 62, which acts upon the lever 18 to limit the downwardmovement of the tube 34 and its connection, substantially as shown.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation ofmyinvention,

I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim-- 1. In an automatic gaslighting and extinguishing device, a time mechanism, a gasburner, areservoir containing liquid, a valve controlling the supply of gas tothe burner consisting of a vertically-movable tube with a cross-walldividing it, two inverted cups, one within the other, attached to andmovable with said tubes but normally entering the liquid in thereservoir, perforations in the tube above and below the cross-wallforming communication respectively with the outer and inner cup, andintermediate mechanism between the time mechanism and the valve,intermittingly operated by the time mechanism to alternately raise andlower said valve, to supply gas to the burner or to cut oit the supply,for the purpose set forth.

2. In an automatic gas lighting and extin guishing device a timemechanism, a main gas-burner, a pilot-burner, a reservoir containingliquid, a valve controlling the supply of gas to the main burnerconsisting of a vertically-movable tube with a cross-wall dividing itinto an upper and lower passage, two inverted cups one within the otherattached to and movable with said tube but normally entering the liquidinto the reservoir, and perforations in the tube above and below thecross wall forming communication respectively with the outer and innercups, a second tube attached to and vertically movable with thefirst-named vertically-movable tube forming communication between thegas-supply and the pilot-burner, a stationary rod forming a valve inconnection with said second vertical movable tube to control the supplyof gas to the pilot-burner, and intermediate mechanism between the timemechanism and the vertically-movable tubes intermittingly operated bythe time mechanism to alternately raise and lower said tubes to operatethe valves controlling the supply of gas to said burners, for thepurpose set forth.

3. In an automatic gas lighting and extinguishing device, a timemechanism, a main gas-burner, a pilot-burner, a valve controlling thesupply of gas to said burner, and intermediate mechanism between saidtime mechanism and said valve consisting of a rocking lever, one end ofwhich is in engagement with said valve, a pivoted lever intermittinglyraised by said time mechanism and allowed to drop when released fromsaid mechanism, an automatic locking device to lock the ,free end ofsaid rock-lever in its lowest position, and a pawl carried by the leverwhich is operated by the time mechanism and alternately depresses thefree end of the rock-lever, or releases it from the locking device ateach complete up-and-down movement of said pawl, for the purpose setforth.

4:. In an automatic gas lighting and extinguishing device, a timemechanism, a main gas-burner, a pilot-burner, a reservoir containingliquid, a valve controlling the supply of gas to the main'burner,consisting of atube, a cross-wall tending to prevent gas from passingthrough said tube, two inverted cups one within the other, entering theliquid in the reservoir and attached to the tube, the inner cup in opencommunication with the supplyinlet and a perforation in the tube abovethe cross-wall, forming free communication between the tube above thecross-wall and the space between the two inverted cups, and intermediatemechanism between the time mechanism and the valve intermittinglyoperated by the time mechanism to alternately raise and lower said valveto supply gas to the main burner, or to cut off the supply, for thepurpose set forth.

5. In an automatic gas lighting and extinguishing mechanism, a timemechanism, a main and a pilot gas-burner, a gas-supply, a valvecontrolling the supply of gas to the main burner by an up-and-downmovement of said valve, a rock-lever operating said valve, alocking-pawl to lock said lever in position when the valve is raised apivoted lever acted upon by the time mechanism to move said lever upwardand to allow it to drop, and a hooked weighted pawl carried by saidpivoted lever and having inclined surfaces to engage the rock-lever andthe locking-pawl, whereby the rock-lever is engaged and its free enddepressed by the hooked pawl and locked in that position by one completeup-and-down move ment of the pivoted lever and pawl, and is releasedfrom the locking-pawl and allowed to return to its normal position bythe next complete up-and-down movement of the pivoted lever and pawl, toalternately open and close said valve, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aftixed my sig nature in presence of twowitnesses.

AI B. SHAIV.

\Vitnesses:

J. F. OCoNNoR, HENRY CHADBOURN.

